The bank has been trying to overhaul itself after suffering three consecutive years of annual losses and paying huge fines for its involvement in packaging and selling toxic mortgages before the global financial crisis.

The turnaround plan, now near the end of its third year, is finally paying off.

3. Shire takeover saga: Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda has upped its bid to buy Dublin-based biotech company Shire to -46 billion ($64.3 billion).

Shire said in a statement that its board would be willing to recommend the offer to the company's shareholders, providing certain conditions are met.

Takeda shares dropped 7% in Tokyo on Wednesday. They're down about 20% since the company first revealed it was considering an approach for Shire just under a month ago.

Shire stock gained 1% in London.

4. Global market overview:US stock futures were pointing lower, suggesting the Dow's longest losing streak in a year may be extended.